Author's note - I dunno why I paired Beaver and Taylor up. It wasn't because they needed to be together. There can be characters on shows without a significant other. It was random. I wanted Taylor there, to talk to him about home and whatever because they're complete opposites and it'd be nice. But then she kissed him out of nowhere. I thought it was adorable tho because he's reluctant. Because they are complete opposites and they're supposed to hate each other. So, now they kinda like each other and she's shot. And of course Jackson's gonna be pissed because he's got a soft part for Taylor too, even if it's nothing more than that. So keep reading.

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Jackson rushed forward, crossing the cabin to Rodney. "Stop it, Cody, or another one's gonna get a bullet." Jackson, of course, didn't stop. He knocked Eric aside with his foot, putting out a hand as Rodney pulled the trigger. Jackson rammed hard into Rodney and they both fell to the floor, struggling for the gun. But now there was blood on the gun. Nathan, Daley and Melissa all surged forward to assist Jackson because if Rodney did happen to get the gun back, nothing good would come from it.

Rodney did get the better of Jackson, rolling on top of him but before he could wrestle the gun out of Jackson's bloody grasp, Melissa kicked it hard, receiving a yelp from Jackson. The gun was knocked away from Rodney and Jackson and onto the floor. When Rodney reached for it Melissa stepped hard on his hand and kicked it further away, this time toward Eric who promptly picked it up, scooting away from Rodney.

Jackson managed to bring up his legs and kick Rodney off of him and onto his own bottom. Jackson could see the black dots dancing in front of his eyes, ebbing away the edges of his vision. His head felt heavy and he felt his breathing slow. But he also felt the unbearable pain, the senseless throbbing in his hand. He brought it up to his chest, but it felt like he was raising his hand out of water, the sudden weight of gravity almost too much. He gripped at it with his other hand, closing his eyes and welcoming the peaceful blackness.

Eric aimed the gun at Rodney who was now climbing to his feet, wiping Jackson's blood onto his pants. "You're not going to pull the trigger," Rodney purred. "Fucking pussy."

Eric chortled, tightening his grip on the gun. "Eric, stop it, there's too many people injured already," Daley said.

"Fuck that," Eric said, waving the gun around. "This bastard needs to be dropped like a dead skunk." Eric trained the gun on Rodney once more.

"Eric, stop it," Nathan said. "This isn't a game. If you shoot him he does die."

"All the more reason," Eric said.

Beaver struggled through the crowd that was smothering Eric and Rodney. He seized the gun from Eric's grasp and returned to Taylor's side, tucking the gun safely inside his pants. "I get the gun from now on. Psycho rich kids."

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Melissa paced the room feverently. Twelve paces forward, turn, twelve paces back, turn. Jackson had been unconscious for two hours, but that wasn't unusual, right? "Stop fucking pacing," Beaver said over his shoulder. Beaver knelt on the ground in front of Taylor who was sitting against a wall. Jackson was placed on the bed. Daley had wrapped up his hand with whatever the emergency bag had given them to work with. Beaver had taken up the opportunity to remove Taylor's shirt and bandage her arm. It was very intimate.

"Ow," Taylor said suddenly as Beaver wrapped another bandage around her arm. "Don't push so hard."

"I have to push hard, Taylor," Beaver told her gently. "You have to use force to stop the bleeding. Lucky for us, our blood generally clots quickly and within days the cut is healed."

"Within days?" Taylor asked.

"Well, not usually gun shot wounds. I mean - the bullets still in it. We usually have to burn the wound together so you don't bleed to death," Beaver replied solemnly.

"What?" Taylor asked outraged.

"But we won't with you," Beaver replied quickly. "Your blood is clotting just fine. It'll stop bleeding on its own."

"How do you know all this?" Melissa asked, coming to a stop behind Beaver.

"I spent a lot of time in the emergency room," Beaver answered brightly. "I guess even doctors get tired of answering questions."

"Life was really bad for you, huh?" Taylor asked seriously, putting a hand on Beaver's busy hands. Beaver reluctantly steeled his movement. He stared deep into Taylor's eyes.

"No worse than anybody else's," he mumbled, looking away

"It's not always a bad thing to talk about yourself," Taylor told him softly, reaching out to his chin and tilting it so she could see into his eyes once more "It doesn't make you vain, Beaver."

"I'm going to go get some water," Melissa said before slipping out of the room.

Beaver had began to finish bandaging Taylor's arm but now Taylor knocked his hands away. "I don't know how this whole…trust issue is supposed to go but bad things have happened to you. I know this. If you want to be weak, Beaver, I don't care. I just hate it when guys act like they're tough or something."

"Taylor, it's not like that," Beaver began.

"Yes it is," Taylor interrupted. "But I don't care."

"Then shut the fuck up about it," Jackson commanded groggily as he rolled over onto his side, instinctively pulling his hand up against his chest.

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"How you feeling?" Melissa asked softly, handing Jackson a water bottle.

Jackson took the bottle and dragged himself into a sitting position. "Thanks," he croaked. "But I'm fine. How's Taylor holding up?"

"Surprisingly really well," Melissa answered, sitting beside Jackson on the bed. "I think
Beaver's really helping lighten her load."

"Beaver and Taylor," Jackson said with a controlled laugh. "I would have never placed them together."

"Because of Beaver?" Melissa asked. "Or because of Taylor."

"Because of both," Jackson admitted. "This isn't some from the wrong side of the tracks shit. Beaver hates rich snobs and Taylor hates poor…people. And Beaver's outspoken. He's unashamed of…anything. Taylor's the most critical person I've ever met. They're puzzle pieces from two completely different puzzles."

"I think they're real cute together," Melissa murmured.

"Yeah," Jackson agreed. "But I dunno how well Beaver'll handle this relationship."

"What do you mean?" Melissa asked.

"I know Beaver's outspoken but he's also withdrawn, Mel," Jackson murmured, before taking a long swallow of water. "I don't think Taylor can handle the whole waiting until he comes to you deal."

"Huh," Melissa murmured. "That would be tough to deal with."

Jackson glanced sideways at Melissa. "Is that some kind of hint I'm supposed to pick up on?"

"No," Melissa answered quickly. "Unless you want to?"

Jackson cracked a smile. "Well, I guess I can tell you about myself twice…" Melissa cocked an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut. "I was put into foster care when I was ten because I suffered from physical abuse. But a lot of the foster homes were a whole lot more than just physically abusive. There were other kinds of abuse. Things that no matter how hard I close my eyes they don't just go away."

"You mean -"

Jackson had began to nod. "Yes i do. Like I said, I don't know exactly what Beaver went through but I'm pretty sure it wasn't this. which is a good thing. But that's what makes us tick. That's why we're simple. Because of different abuse."

"Oh, Jackson," Melissa murmured. She wanted to reach out and touch him but she wasn't sure he wanted to be touched, especially after his history.

"So, are we supposed to hug or something?" Jackson asked, studying Melissa's face.

"Yes," Melissa said quickly, embracing Jackson in a tight hug.

"You don't hate me?" Jackson asked into her air.

"Of course I don't hate you Jackson," Melissa commented. "I could never hate someone as marvelous as you."

"Marvelous, eh?" Jackson asked, feeling a grin creep across his face. "I appreciate this, Melissa."

They parted but remained real close. "Don't act like I'm giving you something you don't deserve, Jackson. Because I'm not."

Jackson nodded. "Thanks for being my friend."